The relationship between current grain prices and forage/pasture prices in western Nebraska is creating a scenario where forage crops may provide an economically viable alternative to a cash grain crop. From an economic perspective, at current market prices, 1.5 tons per acre of annual forage is competitive with cash grain crops in terms of generating gross dollars per acre.

Conducting a prescribed burn can improve CRP or pasture, but needs to be done in communication with local permitting offices to ensure safety and that only targeted areas are affected. (Photo by Jim Stubbendieck)

Prescribed burning CRP or pasture can improve stands, prepare them for interseeding, control weeds and trees, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve forage quality, but it must be done safely. The best time is from mid-April to early May when warm season grasses are just starting to grow.

Figure 1. With grain prices down and input costs up, converting cropland to pastureland could create a profit opportunity for 2017. A successful and cost-effective conversion starts with careful planning. (Photo by Jerry Volesky)

At a time when crop production costs remain high as crop prices decline and cattle compete for scarce pastures, converting cropland to pasture might make sense. If you’re considering this change, take time to plan and do it right.

What should it cost to rent pasture this year? Preliminary results from the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey (Tables 1 and 2) released this week list average pasture rental rates by district and quality level as well as rates for cow-calf pairs.